Welcome to the Hog Blog, a blog chronicling minor-league baseball in the Lehigh Valley. Tom Housenick, The Morning Call's IronPigs beat writer, has been at The Morning Call since 2008. In a previous lifetime, he was at Lackawanna County Stadium in Moosic talking with future Phillies Jimmy Rollins, Pat Burrell, Shane Victorino and Ryan Howard, among many others.
He’ll now be spending his summers in search of who the Phillies are hoping to be the next Chase Utley and Cole Hamels plus any outfielder who catch and hit. What he really hopes to find are the next Mariano Rivera, Todd Helton and Jim Thome --- great human beings who happened to be great at this sport.
He spent the last five years covering Colonial League football, college basketball and high school track & field.

To the surprise of no one, IronPigs pitcher Steve Kline has been suspended indefinitely by both the Phillies and the International League.

The league will announce the length of the suspension within the next 24 to 48 hours after reviewing tapes of Monday night's incident. The Phillies suspended the 34-year-old left hander to ensure they can replace him on the IronPigs roster.

Kline, who is tied for 11th in career appearances by a left hander in major league history, signed a minor league contract with the Phillies after being released by San Francisco near the end of spring training. He was hoping for a quick trip back to the big leagues, if not with the Phillies than with another team that needed bullpen helpd, but has struggled here with a 1-2 record and a 5.91 ERA in 20 appearances. He's also blown two of his three save opportunities.

More to the point, Kline, who spent most of his major league time as a specialist against left handers, has struggled in that role with the IronPigs, allowing I.L. lefty batters to hit ..341 against him so far this year.

At the very least Kline was looking for a September call-up, but with those numbers that opportunity seems to be remote. Kline has grown increasingly frustrated with his struggles, and it wouldn't surprise me if he simply walks away at some point of the season.

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As we sit here 15 minutes before Tuesday's game time, one of the most wicket storms of the summer is rolling through Coca-Cola Park. My guess is we're looking at the first rain-out in park history.

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The Phillies filled Kline's roster spot by recalling Jason Anderson from Reading. Earlier in the day Anderson was sent back down to Double-A after a seven-day stint with the IronPigs following the trade of Ron Chiavacci to Houston on June 2.

Overall this will be Anderson's fourth time in an IronPigs uniform this season. He was on the team's original roster, was sent down on April 11 when Steve Green arrived from extended spring, returned to the IronPigs in the April 29 roster shakeup, then went back to Reading on May 6 when R.J. Swindle was promoted.

Outfielder Javon Moran has also made multiple journeys up and down Route. 222. If I'm a player in the Phillies system who might bounce between Double-A and Triple-A in a given season, I'm looking for a summer home in the Kutztown area or the western suberbs of the Lehigh Valley.

This was a very unfortunate incident. Steve is a true gentlemen and this does not show his true personality. I hope to see Steve back soon. I also would like to know if there are any chances of seeing Carrasco in the Valley any time this year?

Posted By: Trev Marcks | Jun 11, 2008 10:24:04 AM

What has T.J. Bohn done at the plate to earn the honor of batting 2nd? Oscar Robles, Rich Thompson or Chris Snelling are better suited in that role. I just don't get what Hupp is thinking.

Posted By: matt | Jun 13, 2008 8:00:51 PM

How often is this blog updated?? Not one mention of this weekends games??